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CONSTRUCTIVE 
SOCIALISM 


BY 

GEORGE  THOMAS  MILLAR 


PRICE  TEN  CENTS 


<      ■    J0CZZZD||CZ30CID||(  lOI  )| 


CONSTRUCTIVE 
SOCIALISM 


BY 


GEORGE  THOMAS   MILLAR 


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PRICE    TEN    CENTS 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  VOLUNTARY  COOPERATIVE 
ASSOCIATION 

LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA 
,1913 


Copyright,  1913,  by 
The  Voluntary  Cooperative  Association 


Constructive  Socialism 


CHAPTER  I. 
The  Socialist  Movement 

The  social  problems  that  confront  us  today- 
are  caused  by  private  ownership  of  land,  mines, 
tools  and  all  other  means  used  in  the  produc- 
tion and  distribution  of  wealth;  and  can  only 
be  solved  by  the  collective  ownership  by  the 
people  of  these  means  which  are  used  socially. 

This  social  industrial  system  with  the  form 
of  society  resulting  from  it  is  termed  Social- 
ism, but  there  are  various  beliefs  in  regard  to 
the  method  or  tactics  to  be  used  in  attaining  it. 

Political  Socialism 
Political  Socialists  believe  that  the  working 
class  must  be  educated  into  class  conscious- 
ness and  by  organizing  themselves  into  a  po- 
litical party,  gain  control  of  the  government 
and  then  proceed  to  inaugurate  Socialism. 

Industrial  or  Syndicalist  Socialism 

Industrial  Unionists  or  Syndicalists  believe 
in  using  the  general  strike  or  other  forcible 
means  of  gaining  control  and  possession  of  the 
industries. 

Constructive    Socialism 

The  term  "Constructive  Socialism"  is  used 
here  to  designate  the  belief  that  having  the 


291799 


4 CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

legal  right  to  own  property  in  common,  and 
that  our  economic  activity  and  method  of  pro- 
ducing wealth  being  the  fundamental  physical 
factors '  in  our  development,  we  should  com- 
mence changing  the  social  system  by  organiz- 
ing into  an  Association  to  collectively  acquire 
and  own  land  and  tools ;  establish  industries  to 
produce  the  necessities  of  life  and  secure  to 
the  worker  the  product  of  his  labor  without 
rent,  interest  or  profit;  and  with  the  purpose 
of  extending  this  collective  industrial  organi- 
zation until  by  its  power  the  present  system 
has  been  conquered  and  abolished,  thus  secur- 
ing at  once  the  benefit  of  living  and  working 
under  sane  conditions,  as  well  as  aiding  in  the 
surest  manner  the  complete  overthrow  of 
Capitalism. 

It  Can  Be  Done 

It  can  be  done  now  because  there  are  enough 
people  who  desire  it,  who  know  how  to  do  it, 
and  have  the  power  and  opportunity  to  in- 
augurate it  at  once.  We  have  the  essentials 
for  all  action,  either  individual  or  social :  Ne- 
cessity, desire,  intelligence  and  opportunity. 
One  more  is  needed,  the  willingness  to  do  it, 
and  that  exists  but  is  quiescent  because  it  is 
not  generally  taught  that  the  power  is  in  our 
hands. 

It  can  be  successfully  accomplished  because 
collectively  owned  capital  by  the  workers  is  a 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  5 

greater  economic  force  than  capitalism.  If  it 
is  not,  it  should  never  take  its  place.  If  it  is, 
it  should  commence  to  demonstrate  it  now  by 
that  inherent  force.  It  has  a  greater  strength 
because  it  lacks  all  the  weakness  which 
capitalism  derives  through  its  organization  for 
rent,  interest  and  profit,  with  its  parasites  and 
wasted  efforts.  With  all  the  strength  of 
capitalism  and  none  of  its  weakness,  and  with 
a  more  efficient  organization  it  can  meet 
capitalism  on  the  economic  field  where  it 
should  and  must  meet  it,  and  conquer  it,  as 
the  Trusts  have  defeated  competition  in  capital- 
ism by  cooperation. 

All  things  of  which  we  are  cognizant  have 
small  beginnings,  it  is  the  law  of  progress  and 
of  all  development.  The  small  seed  planted  in 
the  earth  grows  to  a  tree,  dominating  and 
compelling  the  earth  to  give  it  sustenance. 
We  know  of  no  other  method  on  the  earth  or 
in  the  universe.  It  is  the  only  logical  method 
based  on  all  that  goes  to  make  up  human  in- 
telligence from  social  evolution,  the  domain  of 
nature,  or  even  in  the  metaphysical  or  spiritual 
aspects  of  creation  and  growth.  The  CO- 
OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH  will  be- 
gin the  same  way,  and  can  only  come  from 
that  beginning. 

On  account  of  the  teachings  of  the  Socialist 
political  parties  it  is  very  commonly  assumed 
that  this  can  not  be  done,  and  the  failures  of 


6  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

some  cooperative  colonies  or  communities  are 
quoted  as  evidence.  But  failure  is  the  fore- 
runner of  all  practical  human  endeavor.  Back 
of  all  mechanical  construction  lies  a  line  of 
failures  before  it  received  the  touch  which 
made  it  successful,  and  if  failure  is  to  become 
our  guide,  all  human  advancement  would  stop 
until  man  became  absolute  in  knowledge,  but 
even  this  can  only  be  gained  through  the  ex- 
perience of  both  failures  and  successes.  The 
failures  of  cooperative  attempts  only  indicate 
that  the  correct  method  has  not  been  used  or 
the  appropriate  time  arrived. 


CHAPTER  II. 
Society  and  Its   Development 

All  forms  of  life  have  two  aspects :  the  posi- 
tive and  the  negative;  and  man  is  not  an  ex- 
ception to  this  rule.  He  is  an  individual  and 
also  a  social  man,  and  his  duty  to  society  is  as 
great  as  to  himself,  because  without  society  he 
would  not  be  what  he  is.  Even  in  one  genera- 
tion a  man  or  woman,  if  completely  separated 
from  all  human  society  from  birth,  would  not 
have  much  more  intelligence  than  the  animals. 
So  we  owe  our  language  and  other  intellectual 
acquirements  which  we  display  either  mentally 
or  physically,  to   society  and  thus  from   our 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  7 

indebtedness  to  society  we  have  incurred  the 
obligation  of  the  social  man. 

Society  is  an  organic  unit  composed  of  in- 
dividuals and  also  has  two  aspects;  the  social 
and  individual.  Our  individual  and  social  ac- 
tivity must  necessarily  take  form  and  the  so- 
cial industrial  or  economic  system  is  the  con- 
crete result  of  the  thought  and  action  of  man- 
kind and  is  representative  of  his  intelligence. 
The  economic  system  creates  necessity  and 
determines  what  the  next  step  will  be,  just  as 
the  position  in  which  I  am  now  standing  in  a 
degree  determines  where  I  shall  stand  next, 
but  I  have  the  freedom  to  go  backward,  for- 
ward or  to  either  side;  but  necessity,  desire  and 
willingness  enter  in  and  all  these  factors  act 
on  each  other  and  thus  all  are  developed. 

Environment  is  not  greater  than  man,  be- 
cause man  is  its  creator,  and  in  creating  it  has 
developed  necessity  which  demands  a  change, 
and  intelligence  to  do  it.  In  the  beginning 
when  man  stood  naked  in  nature's  own  en- 
vironment he  made  it  subject  according  to  his 
ability,  and  the  same  degree  of  superiority 
still  exists. 

Man  has  advanced  by  going  to  extremes  in 
making  the  social  and  then  the  individual  as- 
pect the  dominating  force.  In  the  tribal  and 
patriarchal  states,  the  social  aspect  was  posi- 
tive and  the  individual  negative.  The  indi- 
vidual aspect  commenced  to  become  positive 


8  CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM 

when  slavery  started  by  one  tribe  subjecting 
another  in  whole  or  in  part,  thus  showing  a 
disregard  for  the  social  forms  and  manifesting 
an  individual  superiority  over  it.  Feudalism 
or  serfdom  was  an  advancement  along  the  same 
line.  Individualism  has  reached  its  full 
height  in  capitalism  and  is  the  dominating  and 
controlling  force  of  society,  while  the  social 
aspect  is  negative.  But  individualism  can  not 
continue  to  control,  because  there  must  be  a 
balance  between  the  positive  and  negative 
forces,  that  is,  between  the  social  and  indi- 
vidual aspects.  It  is  only  through  the  balance 
of  these  two  forces  that  human  justice  can  be 
had.  Individualism  has  developed  mankind  to 
demand  more  and  more  justice  and  this  can 
not  be  had  until  there  is  a  readjustment  of  so- 
ciety and  both  the  social  forces  are  equally  in 
control.  The  COOPERATIVE  COMMON- 
WEALTH is  the  only  means  whereby  this 
adjustment  can  be  made.  Individualistic  so- 
cial reformers  are  continually  trying  to  get 
social  justice  and  at  the  same  time  keep  in- 
dividualism as  the  dominating  force  of  society, 
which  is  absolutely  impossible  until  a  balance 
of  social  forces  has  been  consumated  by  the 
elimination  of  the  power  of  one  class  to  ex- 
ploit society. 

Confusion  of  thought  often  arises  from 
terms  which  may  be  used  to  express  different 
ideas. 


CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM  9 

Personal  individuality  or  personal  expres- 
sion is  not  curtailed  by  placing  more  power 
in  the  social  form,  instead  it  is  limited  by 
making  the  individual  aspect  of  society  pre- 
dominant over  the  social. 

Personal  or  individual  expression  will  find 
the  most  freedom  when  the  two  aspects  of  so- 
ciety are  balanced. 

This  desire  to  maintain  individualism  as  the 
dominant  force  in  society  is  social  selfishness. 

Human  unselfishness  becomes  a  fact  only 
when  the  two  aspects  of  the  individual  man 
have  come  into  harmony. 

All  the  social  problems,  warfare  and  injustice 
of  society  are  due  to  the  dominating  force  of 
individualism — that  is,  social  selfishness. 
Private  capitalism  or  the  competitive  system 
is  the  expression  of  this  individualism  of  selfish- 
ness in  the  social  economic  system.  Capital- 
ists are  not  any  more  to  blame  for  it  than  any 
other  individual  regardless  of  the  class  to  which 
he  belongs. 

The  economic  system  cannot  change  itself, 
but  by  its  growth,  it  creates  the  necessity  and 
opportunity,  which  it  has  done.  The  responsi- 
bility is  with  the  Socialists  to  establish  the 
economic  force  to  make  this  change,  which  they 
can  do,  because  wealth  can  be  produced  at 
less  cost  by  Socialist  cooperation  and  naturally 
would  become  the  ruling  system. 


10  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

CHAPTER  III. 
Method  of  Social  Progress 

All  the  individuals  composing  a  race  or  na- 
tion may  not  be  as  powerful  as  their  environ- 
ment, but  if  that  particular  social  unit  is 
progressing,  there  must  be  one  class  so  great  as 
to  be  able  to  carry  the  whole  body  forward. 
The  capitalist  class  performs  that  function  in 
our  present  society.  Those  who  had  the  char- 
acter fitted  to  become  dominant  in  competitive 
society,  became  a  part  of  that  class.  They 
were  necessary  and  are  still  necessary  until  a 
stronger  economic  class  eliminates  them. 
They  developed  in  society  as  a  result  of  the 
individualistic  mentality  of  the  people,  and  have 
been  the  controllers  of  the  economic  system, 
compelling  others  to  follow  where  they  led, 
which  has  resulted  in  our  present  civilization. 

It  was  not  the  advance  of  one  class  alone, 
for  society  must  be  viewed  as  a  unit  which 
has  many  parts  or  organs,  as  the  human  or 
other  bodies  have.  They  have  individual  in- 
terests but  are  compelled  by  the  law  of  life — 
Unity — to  work  together  for  the  preservation, 
development  and  advancement  of  the  whole 
body.  This  is  self-evident  when  we  see  that 
society  or  the  social  man  has  advanced  through 
this  system  to  a  point  where  the  lowest  class 
has  more  opportunities  for  intellectual  expres- 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  11 

sion  than  the  highest  classes  at  the  beginning 
of  capitalism. 

Feudalism  or  serfdom  developed  by  the  same 
method  and  from  the  same  cause;  the  force 
or  means  used  being  in  accord  with  the  men- 
tality of  the  people  of  that  time,  and  the  op- 
portunity which  the  economic  conditions  af- 
forded. 

The  trading  class  may  have  been  the  nucleus 
from  which  the  capitalist  class  arose.  We  do 
not  know  when  it  started,  but  know  it  was 
from  a  small  beginning,  as  all  things  commence, 
and  that  it  was  augmented  by  individuals  from 
all  classes  who  in  the  competitive  struggle 
showed  themselves  fit  to  act  that  part.  It  was 
not  an  existing  class  which  was  first  educated 
to  class  consciousness,  but  one  that  developed. 

As  it  developed,  opposing  interests  and  laws 
were  compelled  to  yield  to  its  influence  and 
power.  It  received  support  from  other  classes 
a  great  part  of  whom  became  wage  workers, 
actuated  by  self  interest,  and  following  the 
social  instinct  of  individualism  as  represented 
in  the  ruling  class. 

They  were  unconscious  of  the  work  which 
they  were  destined  to  perform;  while  social 
cooperation,  which  is  a  union  of  the  individ- 
ual and  social  forces  has  more  consciousness 
of  its  plans,  purposes  and  work  to  be  ac- 
complished, because  the  balancing  of  these 
two  social  forces  gives  the  social  cooperative 


12  CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM 

mentality,  which  is  more  intelligent  and  pow- 
erful. 

The  political  revolutions  which  occurred  in 
the  acquirement  of  economic  power  followed 
the  inception  of  the  system  in  ratio  to  its 
acquired  force  and  necessity  of  expansion. 
This  is  the  natural  order  which  we  see  in 
all  nature;  the  revolution  of  the  bursting  seed 
takes  place  after  it  has  been  subjected  to 
its  water  and  earth  environment  over  which 
it  finally  dominates  as  a  plant  or  tree.  The 
revolution  at  the  birth  of  the  human  body 
takes  place  after  the  required  development  of 
the  physical  form.  The  Socialist  economic 
education  may  be  likened  to  the  human  de- 
sire which  results  in  the  conception  of  the 
child;  but  the  desire  must  be  manifested  in 
such  a  manner  as  will  produce  a  physical 
body,  then  in  proper  time  the  revolution  of 
birth  occurs.  So  it  must  be  in  the  growth  of 
the  new  social  man;  the  Socialist  political 
education  will  result  in  the  inauguration  of 
the  COOPERATIVE  COMMONWEALTH, 
which  may  lie  unnoticed  in  the  social  womb 
until  its  growing  economic  power  will  bring 
it  social  recognition,  and  that  will  be  the  be- 
ginning of  the  SOCIAL  REVOLUTION— 
when  SOCIALISM  is  actually  in  practice,  and 
no  longer  a  theory.  So  the  logic  of  history 
and  nature  tells  us  that  the  COOPERATIVE 
CLASS  must  form  by  acquiring  and  develop- 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  13 

ing  economic  power;  and  through  the  power 

obtain  complete   control,  political  and  other- 
wise. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Inefficiency  in  Our  Present  Industrial  System 

Wealth  is  used  or  consumed  in  two  ways; 
part  of  it  we  use  or  consume  individually, 
and  part  of  it  we  use  socially.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  there  are  two  kinds  of  social  prop- 
erty, viz :  public  property  of  all  kinds  which 
is  socially  owned  and  used,  and  all  the  capital 
or  means  used  socially  in  the  production  and 
distribution  of  wealth  in  any  form.  This  lat- 
ter is  privately  owned  but  it  is  social  property 
because  it  would  not  be  any  use  to  its  own- 
ers unless  socially  used,  and  society  is  forced 
from   necessity  to   use   it. 

Private  ownership  is  the  result  of  the  com- 
petitive system  of  industry  supported  by  the 
people  because  they  are  individualistic,  not 
having  developed  the  social  side  of  their 
being.  The  profit  which  capitalists  make 
from  the  workers  or  the  rent  and  interest 
taken  from  society,  is  not  all  personally  used 
by  them.  They  return  part  of  it  for  extend- 
ing and  enlarging  the  socially  used  but 
privately   controlled   capital. 

This  is  the  social  function  which  they  per- 


14  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

form  for  society,  and  we  remunerate  them  by- 
allowing  them  to  retain  any  amount  they  de- 
sire for  their  own  personal  use  and  enabling 
them  to  increase  this  amount  continually. 
This  function  is  made  necessary  only  through 
the  ignorance  of  people  to  perform  it  for 
themselves.  The  capitalists  have  made  this 
social  function  more  costly  to  society  by  hir- 
ing people  to  do  it,  while  they  are  chiefly  en- 
gaged in  spending  what  they  do  not  produce. 

The  competitive  system  is  a  further  expense 
to  society,  and  therefore  to  all  the  people  in- 
dividually because  it  makes  necessary,  or  gives 
the  opportunity  for  duplication  of  capital  and 
labor,  and  for  many  useless  business  agencies, 
such  as  middlemen,  lawyers,  brokers,  bankers, 
land  agents  and  advertisers,  etc.,  and  their 
employees. 

Society  is  therefore  in  the  position  of  a 
business  man  who  employs  100  men  to  do 
the  work  which  could  be  done  by  50  men. 

Under  a  socially  owned  and  controlled  in- 
dustrial system,  the  same  division  of  wealth 
would  be  made  for  social  and  individual  use, 
but  we  would  save  the  expense  and  waste 
which  results  from  supporting  these  useless 
classes  in  society,  thus  giving  all  people 
greater  returns  for  their  labor. 

There  is  no  law  to  prevent  people  from 
forming  an  efficient  organization  now  for 
collective     ownership     and     production,     and 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  15 

thereby  eliminate  the  payment  of  rent,  profit 
or  interest  to  any  one. 

As  the  trusts  defeated  the  competitive  sys- 
tem among  capitalists  by  cooperating  and 
eliminating  waste,  so  would  we  defeat  the 
competitive  system  among  workers  by  com- 
bining to  produce  for  ourselves,  and  by  edu- 
cation through  demonstration  and  economic 
pressure,  become  the  dominant  social  system. 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Method  and  Power  of  Socialist  Coopera- 
tive   Industry 

The  full  benefits  of  cooperative  production 
can  not  be  obtained  in  a  single  industry,  such 
as  farm,  mine,  factory  or  store,  because  we 
would  still  be  paying  interest,  profit  and  rent 
on  all  other  goods  bought  for  use.  There 
must  be  a  chain  of  production  from  the 
earth  to  the  consumer.  The  principle  to  be 
followed  is  the  collective  ownership  of  the 
tools  and  land,  and  producing  for  use.  The 
organization  and  facilities  must  be  large 
enough  to  produce  a  great  part  of  the  intel- 
lectual and  physical  necessities  desired  by  the 
members. 

Production  for  use  will  give  us  economic 
power.  For  instance  if  we  had  a  wheat  field, 
flour  mill  and  bake  shop  with  all  the  best 
machinery,   there   would   be   no   wasted   labor 


16  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

or  profits  to  middlemen ;  and  if  by  this  method 
we  produced  a  loaf  of  bread  for  2  cents  (fig- 
uring labor  at  the  market  price)  while  capi- 
talistic citizens  were  paying  5  cents  for  the 
same  sized  loaf,  we  would  have  3  cents 
towards  getting  luxuries  which  our  capital- 
istic masters  have.  Apply  the  same  principle 
to  other  industries,  grow  our  own  beef, 
slaughter  the  cattle,  make  leather,  shoes  and 
leather  goods,  grow  and  manufacture  our 
own  woolen  goods,  etc.  We  can  easily  see 
how  we  would  be  getting  more  for  our  labor. 
This  disproves  the  assertion  often  made  that 
Socialist  cooperation  can  not  be  successful 
while  the  capitalistic  system  is  in  existence. 
Instead  of  being  an  obstruction,  it  is  an  ad- 
vantage. Why?  Because  Socialistic  labor 
can  produce  wealth  at  less  cost  than  com- 
petitive labor. 

If  the  cost  of  living  is  a  determining  factor 
in  the  price  of  labor,  and  the  price  of  labor 
is  a  determining  factor  in  the  cost  of  goods, 
then  when  we  have  by  the  elimination  of 
Rent,  Interest  and  Profit  produced  our  living 
at  less  cost,  are  we  not  in  the  position  to 
place  goods  on  the  market  at  less  cost  than 
our  competitors? 

It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  exploitation 
and  wasteful  methods  of  the  present  system, 
and  therefore  impossible  to  correctly  figure 
the  amount  of  advantage  that  we  would  gain 


CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM  17 

by  cooperative  labor,  but  we  know  it  is  prob- 
ably beyond  our  greatest  calculation.  If  any 
merchant  or  manufacturer  possessed  the  same 
knowledge  of  how  he  could  make  his  plant 
more  productive  and  did  not  do  it,  we  could 
only  say  that  he  was  worthy  of  defeat  by  his 
competitors. 

Economic  power  is  any  means  or  methods 
whereby  labor  can  be  made  more  productive 
It  is  for  this  reason  that  machinery  exists  and 
is  continually  improved,  and  why  the  trusts 
were  organized  and  is  powerful. 

If  this  economic  power  is  not  in  applied 
Socialism,  then  why  do  we  want  it?  If  it  is 
in    it,   then   why   not   use    it? 

All  forms  of  life  contain  the  attribute  or 
germ  by  which  it  will  expand,  extend  or  grow 
into  another  form,  and  capitalism  does  and 
necessarily  must  contain  the  means  whereby 
it  will  grow  into  another  system.  All  it 
needs  is  people  with  understanding  to  see  and 
use  it.  Trust  promoters  lost  no  time  in  put- 
ting their  ideas  into  effect  when  they  became 
cognizant  of  how  to  form  a  more  efficient 
and  productive  business  organization.  Are 
we  with  all  our  scientific  knowledge  less  in- 
telligent? 

The  day  of  theoretical  Socialism  is  past 
and  the  time  has  arrived  for  CONSTRUCT- 
IVE SOCIALISTS  to  go  to  work.  The  law  of 
progression   must   be   followed    in   all   things, 


18  CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM 

the  man  must  be  a  child  first,  so  a  commence- 
ment must  be  made,  but  the  people  who  in- 
augurate the  CO-OPERATIVE  COMMON- 
WEALTH will  get  just  as  much  benefit  as 
those  that  come  later.  In  fact  they  will  get 
more  as  the  pleasure  of  building  it  will  be  so 
great. 

It  must  be  organized  with  a  plan  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  purpose  to  be  attained,  by 
a  sufficient  number  of  people  to  derive  the 
economic   advantage  of  the   system. 

Monopolies  would  not  be  any  hindrance  or 
disadvantage  to  us,  for  in  producing  for  our 
own  use  we  would  be  without  competition, 
and  in  producing  for  sale,  which  is  the  equiv- 
alent of  exchanging  products  for  those  we 
could  not  economically  produce,  we  would 
have  an  advantage,  as  we  would  dispense  with 
the  middlemen  and  carry  our  products  to  the 
consumer  through  socialized  distributing  agen- 
cies. In  the  beginning  the  field  where  there  is 
no  monopoly  would  be  our  starting  point,  such 
as  food  products,  butter  and  eggs  for  instance, 
by  having  our  own  creameries  and  cold  stor- 
age and  no  middlemen.  Even  if  the  market 
was  overloaded  we  could  sell  at  less  without 
loss,  in  competition  with  products  from  in- 
dividually worked  farms,  with  a  horde  of 
middlemen  between  them  and  the  market. 
This  offers  an  opportunity  which  may  not  al- 
ways exist,  for  farming  will  be  put  on  a  fac- 


CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM  19 

tory  basis  some  time,  and  we  should  be  the 
people   to  do  it. 

As  we  increased  in  strength  the  monopolies 
would  be  no  obstacle,  for  in  producing  for  our 
own  use  the  cost  of  our  living  would  be  low, 
even  when  we  enjoyed  the  best  of  everything, 
while  the  competitive  worker  in  exchanging 
his  dollar  for  food,  shelter  and  clothing,  con- 
tributes to  all  the  exploitation  and  waste  of 
the  system,  and  monopolies  paying  dividends 
on  watered  stock  and  bonds.  In  using  rail- 
roads or  monopolized  machinery  we  would 
have  the  same  privileges  as  others,  and  com- 
petition is  compelling  laws  to  be  enacted 
which  prevents  discrimination  or  favoritism ; 
but  the  foundation  of  our  strength  lies  in 
producing  the  things  we  need  for  our  own 
use.     This  makes  us  immune   from  attack. 

Even  if  we  never  tried  to  exploit  the  mar- 
ket, except  to  the  extent  of  selling  enough 
for  exchange  of  things  we  could  not  produce, 
the  propaganda  would  be  in  demonstrating 
how  working  people  could  have  for  use  the 
best  products  of  mankind  instead  of  the  poor- 
est. Then  we  would  not  have  to  throw  tons 
of  appeal  to  reason  at  their  heads,  for  animal 
instinct  without  reason  would  drive  them  to 
demand   Socialism. 

We  have  no  limit  but  the  world,  and  no 
enemy  but  our  own  ignorance  and  lack  of  de- 
termination to  cooperate. 


20  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Political  Action 

Socialist  political  action  has  been  an  educa- 
tional force  and  was  necessary  to  our  state 
of  mentality  as  a  forerunner  to  the  use  of 
economic  power,  just  as  the  tallow  candle  was 
a  necessary  step  towards  electric  light.  But 
its  teaching  that  politics  is  the  means  whereby 
we  will  get  the  COOPERATIVE  COMMON- 
WEALTH, and  that  we  must  wait  for  its  in- 
auguration until  we  have  gained  political  con- 
trol of  the  Government,  is  an  unreasonable 
assumption,  a  fantastic  dream.  As  a  belief  it 
served  its  purpose  as  all  other  discarded  hu- 
man beliefs  have  done;  and  it  must  also  be 
dismissed  if  we  are  to  get  Socialism. 

Political  power  is  subservient  to  economic 
power  and  grows  spontaneously  as  economic 
power  is  gained,  and  the  doctrinal  fabric  that 
political  power  must  be  had  first  has  no  found- 
ation in  the  logic  of  human  progress. 

This  belief  is  founded  on  false  premises 
based  on  muddled  interpretations  of  history 
and  human  progress,  resulting  in  an  errone- 
ous view  of  economic  determinism  and  the 
class  struggle. 

It  was  not  the  economic  force  of  feudalism 
that    destroyed    feudalism,    but    the    economic 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  21 

force  of  capitalism  in  operation.  If  we  take 
this  as  a  precedent,  then  it  will  be  the  eco- 
nomic force  of  Socialism  when  established 
which  will  overcome  capitalism. 

Economic  force  is  a  determining  factor  in 
making  an  economic  change  necessary,  and 
also  gives  the  economic  opportunity  to  those 
capable  of  grasping  it.  The  capitalists  had 
this  capability. 

Under  this  individualistic  system  there  is 
constant  warfare  between  individuals,  and  so- 
ciety is  divided  into  many  economic  classes; 
but  there  is  no  basis  in  history  for  believing 
that  an  exploited  class  can  be  educated  by 
self  interest  to  class  consciousness  and  there- 
by gain  economical  control. 

The  capitalist  class  is  only  the  form  or  in- 
strument whereby  the  social  structure  ex- 
presses its  adherence  to  the  principle  of  Indi- 
vidualism. The  capitalist  class  may  be  more 
cohesive  or  class  conscious,  because  this  is  a 
quality  necessary  in  a  governing  class,  but  the 
majority  of  all  classes  vote  the  same  way  at 
the  polls  although  they  are  divided  into  differ- 
ent political  parties,  because  they  are  governed 
by  the  same  principles  of  Individualism.  The 
principle  of  Socialism  is  greater  than  Indivi- 
dualism, but  the  principle  is  only  latent  until 
it  has  an  economic  instrument  through  which 
to  become  active.  It  can  only  become  a  con- 
trolling force  by  economic  organization. 


22  CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM 

According  to  the  laws  of  life  it  would  show 
retrogression  instead  of  progression  if  the  So- 
cialist political  party  was  allowed  to  assume 
control  of  the  government  with  the  purpose  of 
abolishing  this  system,  because  their  weak- 
ness is  self  evident  from  the  fact  that  they 
have  not  grasped  the  economic  opportunity 
which  is  open  to  them ;  and  it  is  an  Utopian 
dream  to  think  that  the  present  governing 
class  would  allow  themselves  to  be  thrown 
out  by  a  weaker  body,  or  even  wait  for  such 
a  crisis  to  occur. 

The  arousing  of  class  hatred  and  enmity 
would  destroy  itself  before  its  object  could  be 
attained,  and  this  method  of  propaganda  is  in 
direct  opposition  to  the  principle  of  coopera- 
tion. Class  enmity  to  be  effectual  must  have 
full  expression,  which  is  violence,  and  that 
can  not  be  held  in  leash  until  the  opportune 
time.  Even  now  it  is  discernable  that  in- 
flamatory  ideas  can  not  as  safely  be  expressed 
as  in  the  past,  and  the  class  war  as  a  means 
of  propaganda  is  nearly  at  an  end,  and  those 
who  persist  in  it  will  be  eliminated. 

Under  this  system  private  interests  are  nec- 
essarily behind  public  affairs,  and  are  a  con- 
stant temptation  to  Socialist  politicians  to  play 
politics,  and  as  the  party  increases  in  strength 
and  offices  can  be  gained,  this  also  becomes  a 
temptation  for  the  manipulation  of  party  ma- 
chinery to  satisfy  personal  ambitions.    Add  to 


CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM  23 

this  the  internal  strife  within  the  party  and 
we  can  see  a  large  dissipation  of  Socialist  en- 
ergy which  if  applied  directly  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Cooperative  Commonwealth 
would  give  immediate  and  permanent  results. 

The  establishment  of  this  Republic  by  force 
can  not  be  taken  as  an  example,  because  this 
was  only  an  adjustment  to  the  economic  force 
already  in  existence.  The  freedom  of  the 
American  chattel  slaves  is  no  criterion,  be- 
cause they  did  not  have  the  right  to  work  for 
wages,  while  we  have  the  right  and  power  to 
cooperate  or  inaugurate  Socialism  at  any 
time. 

Politics  is  an  attribute  of  the  individualistic 
mind  used  in  the  personal  warfare  of  this 
system.  It  is  a  mixture  of  the  cunning  of  the 
animal  with  the  growing  mind  of  man,  but 
the  whole  purpose  of  this  system  is  to  teach 
us  to  do  things  by  reason  and  mathematical 
precision,  and  these  are  the  qualities  which 
must  be  inherent  in  Constructive  Socialists, 
and  in  the  Cooperative  Commonwealth.  Pol- 
itics will  not  build  a  machine  or  grow  pota- 
toes. Constructive  work  is  not  done  with  the 
cunning  of  the  animal  sneaking  up  and  catch- 
ing its  prey  unawares. 

Politics  is  the  product  of  the  system  and 
similar  to  it  in  character.  The  best  Socialist 
policy  now  is  to  commence  getting  Socialism, 
then  we  could  have  Socialist  political  power. 


24  CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM 

The  only  reason  which  could  be  given  in 
support  of  this  theory  that  Socialism  should  or 
can  only  come  through  political  action,  and 
made  to  appear  logical,  is  that  the  people  hav- 
ing democratic  pov^er  should  be  guided  by 
reason  and  use  that  power  to  put  it  into  ef- 
fect; but  it  is  not  reasonable  to  expend  years 
and  years  of  time  and  energy  to  gain  a  right 
and  opportunity  which  now  exists.  Why 
should  people  who  refuse  to  put  their  theories 
into  practice  be  regarded  as  worthy  of  power? 

The  Socialist  philosophers  while  filling  vol- 
umes on  historical  materialism,  overlook  or 
evade  the  only  logical  conclusion  to  be  de- 
duced from  it,  that  economic  power  precedes 
political  power.  The  belief  that  economic 
power  would  be  seized  by  a  class  conscious 
working  class  political  party  was  manufac- 
tured, then  their  philosophy  made  to  fit  this 
idea. 

Politics  will  very  likely  be  used  to  establish 
the  cooperative  commonwealth  after  it  has  by 
demonstration  made  itself  a  necessity  to  the 
people,  especially  working  people. 

If  all  the  mechanical  inventions  had  been 
held  in  abeyance  until  a  majority  of  the  people 
had  been  educated  to  a  belief  in  their  utility, 
we  would  still  be  in  the  Dark  Ages.  The 
steam  engine  or  telegraph  would  still  exist  in 
theory.  It  was  only  by  their  installation  that 
a  belief  in  their  utility  was  gained;  because  a 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  25 

majority  of  the  people  can  never  understand 
a  theory  until  it  is  demonstrated,  and  Social- 
ism in  operation  is  just  like  a  labor  saving 
machine;  it  demonstrates  its  practicability  and 
has  economic  pressure  besides. 

This  does  not  compel  us  to  forego  our  po- 
litical rights.  We  should  use  every  advan- 
tage which  the  system  gives  us,  nor  has  the 
political  work  been  lost,  for  it  will  result  in  an 
economic  organization  which  will  realize  the 
hope  which  has  been  the  life  of  thousands  of 
Socialist  workers. 

There  is  no  logical  proof  that  Government 
ownership  or  State  Capitalism  would  develop 
into  Socialism.  It  is  more  likely  to  develop 
into  a  higher  feudalism,  for  it  bears  all  the 
marks  of  feudalistic  character,  in  imploring 
our  masters  to  do  this  for  our  relief^  instead 
of  being  intelligently  aggressive  and  doing  it 
for  ourselves  by  constructive  work  now. 
There  could  not  be  any  better  method  of  pre- 
venting or  delaying  Socialism  and  keeping 
people  in  the  individualistic  mentality  than 
Government  ownership. 

Socialist  political  power  should  be  used  to 
build  up  a  socialist  economic  organization  . 
where  wealth  is  produced  for  the  use  of  its 
members,  and  interchanged  between  them, 
while  government  ownership  is  not  for  the 
benefit  of  its  workers.  They  are  still  working 
under  competition.    The  natural  place  to  com- 


26  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

mence    is    in    producing    food,    clothing    and 
shelter. 

This  must  be  done  before  Socialist  political 
power  can  be  acquired. 


CHAPTER   VII. 
Acquiring  the  Capital 

The  construction  of  Socialism  will  be  ac- 
complished by  people  from  all  classes,  but  the 
working  class  are  able  to  raise  more  capital 
among  themselves  than  all  of  the  people  could 
have  raised  100  years  ago.  The  working  peo- 
ple of  this  country  have  billions  of  dollars 
in  the  Savings  Banks,  which  shows  they  could 
capitalize  themselves  if  they  had  the  intel- 
ligence to  do  it. 

Investment  companies  of  every  description 
find  a  large  part  of  their  backing  from  this 
class,  and  never  fail  to  make  their  appeal  to 
them,  even  if  it  is  only  $1.00  per  month,  show- 
ing that  shrewd  exploiters  recognize  the  power 
which  this  class  possesses  to  accumulate  capi- 
tal. And  Socialists  have  aided  this  in  not  edu- 
cating people  to  use  this  power  for  themselves, 
in  continuously  and  persistently  preaching  the 
erroneous  doctrine  that  the  Cooperative  Com- 
monwealth can  only  come  by  politics. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  power  which  people 
have   but   do   not   use,   we   will    suppose   the 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  27 

one  million  persons  in  the  United  States  who 
desire  Socialism,  should  form  an  association 
and  each  one  contract  to  contribute  to  a  com- 
mon fund  $18.00  yearly  for  10  years.  This 
fund  to  be  used  as  capital  to  secure  land  and 
build  up  industries.  The  members  to  be 
gradually  placed  at  work  as  the  fund  increased 
owning  their  own  capital  they  would  not  pay 
rent  or  interest  nor  profit  on  their  labor.  But 
instead  would  set  aside  25%  on  the  capital  in- 
vested for  expansion  on  extension.  In  ten 
years  this  capital  would  amount  to  over  five 
hundred  million  dollars,  even  if  there  was  not 
any  money  set  aside  for  expansion  the  first 
three  years. 

If  $500.00  is  the  amount  necessary  to  pro- 
vide land  and  tools  for  each  person,  then  at 
the  end  of  the  ten  years  all  the  people  could 
be  at  work  for  themselves.  As  they  would 
have  collective  ownership  of  the  social  prop- 
erty, then  in  the  same  degree  as  Rent,  In- 
terest and  Profit  was  eliminated,  in  that  de- 
gree they  would  have  socialism. 

If  the  labor  unions  had  adopted  this  plan  J 
ten  years  ago,  they  would  now  be   working 
for  themselves  instead  of  working  for  wages. 

While  it  is  not  likely  that  a  million  people 
will  take  such  direct  action  at  the  beginning, 
an  association  can  be  formed  and  a  com- 
mencement made  on  this  plan  and  gradually 
educate  people  to  see  how  easy  it  is  to  capi- 


28  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

talize  themselves  socially.  It  can  be  done 
in  monthly  installments  so  small  that  no  one 
would  be  denied  an  opportunity  to  become  a 
member.  All  of  them  could  not  go  to  work 
at  once,  nor  would  all  be  fitted  to  the  first 
work,  just  as  on  a  building  one  trade  has  to 
wait  until  other  mechanics  have  created  the 
opportunity  for  them  to  work,  so  it  would  be 
in  this.  The  members  would  be  called  in  the 
order  of  the  occupations  necessary  for  the 
work  open,  and  in  the  order  of  their  joining. 
Each  one  to  have  the  option  of  refusing  to 
go  when  called,  or  to  leave  or  go  back  to  the 
Commonwealth  when  he  desired.  This  would 
be  an  injury  to  none  and  freedom  to  all.  A 
membership  should  also  include  care  or  em- 
ployment when  incapacitated  or  partly  so 
from  usual  occupation.  In  case  of  death  of 
member,  care  or  work  for  dependents  with 
rights  of  full  membership;  also  hospitals  and 
care  for  the  aged.  Those  who  could  capitalize 
themselves  could  go  to  work  at  once  or  when 
they  desired.  The  problem  of  collecting  the 
capital  is  only  a  matter  of  willingness  and  de- 
termination to  do  it. 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  29 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Commence  on  the  Land 

We  should  start  on  the  land,  because  it  is 
the  basis  of  all  industry,  and  we  could  pro- 
duce the  bulk  of  our  own  food,  which  is  the 
first  necessity  of  life.  There  is  always  a  mar- 
ket for  agricultural  products,  and  land  worked 
cooperatively  on  a  large  scale  should  be 
more  profitable  than  in  small  holdings  where 
the  largest  and  most  modern  machinery  can 
not  be  used.  The  opportunity  to  do  this  will 
not  always  be  here,  for  some  time  the  exploited 
cooperation  or  factory  system  will  be  applied 
to  the  land.  This  is  a  weak  spot  in  the  pres- 
ent system  which  we  should  take  advantage 
of  now,  for  it  makes  the  laying  of  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Socialist  system  easier. 

Location  must  be  made  on  the  land  because 
it  gives  access  to  raw  materials  for  the  fin- 
ished products  necessary  to  life  without  pay- 
ing tribute  for  transportation  to  the  railroads, 
which  would  have  to  be  done  if  location  was 
first  made  in  the  city.  By  starting  on  the 
land  we  cut  ourselves  off  from  a  large  part  of 
Rent,  Interest  and  Profit  at  once.  This  is  a 
reason  why  Socialism  should  have  its  begin- 
ing  in  America,  as  land  is  plentiful  here. 

In  locating,  the  u-ltimate  purpose  as  well  as 
immediate  wants  should  be  kept  in  view.     It 


30  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

should  be  on  a  railroad.  It  should  provide 
for  expansion,  until  our  greater  economic  force 
as  well  as  example  would  compel  surrounding 
land  to  come  under  our  system.  Minerals  if 
not  on  the  land  should  be  within  easy  access, 
as  well  as  facilities  for  stock  raising  to  pro- 
vide woolen  and  leather  goods  as  well  as  food, 
or  to  exploit  the  capitalist  market  if  necessary 
or  economical.  The  object  should  be  to  se- 
cure as  diversified  products  as  possible  in  one 
locality. 

Concentration  of  a  large  initial  unit  would 
give  us  power,  not  only  among  ourselves  but 
on  the  capitalist  system  outside,  which  would 
be  felt  through  our  distributing  agencies  reach- 
ing out  like  tentacles  into  the  capitalist  sys- 
tem. Then  other  units  would  be  established 
more  easily  than  the  first  until  the  system  was 
eliminated. 

A  city  should  be  built  and  planned  both  for 
beauty  and  utility.  Which  would  provide  for 
future  growth  as  a  whole  and  in  part,  and 
thus  avoid  building  blemishes  on  the  land- 
scape and  monuments  to  ignorance,  as  indi- 
cated by  present  American  cities.  A  city 
where  every  physical  or  intellectual  want 
would  be  furnished  by  ourselves,  from  food 
to  music  and  art.  We  would  succeed  not  by 
depriving  ourselves  of  anything  but  by  having 
everything. 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  31 

CHAPTER  IX 

Collective  Ownership 

There  should  be  Collective  ownership  of  the 
land,  tools  or  other  property  used  collectively, 
because  the  plan  from  the  beginning  must  be 
in  accordance  with  the  object  to  be  attained. 
A  company  can  not  be  formed  with  stocks 
and  bonds,  or  any  other  form  which  would 
show  individual  right  to  any  part  of  the  means 
of  production  and  distribution;  nor  any  in- 
terest or  profit  paid.  None  of  these  can  be 
part  of  an  organization  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  the  Cooperative  Commonwealth, 
because  it  is  contrary  to  its  principle. 

Even  if  stock  was  only  sold  to  workers, 
some  would  become  dissatisfied,  leave  the  col- 
ony, and  if  they  sold  or  held  that  stock,  we 
would  have  exploiters  to  that  extent.  If  others 
bought  the  stock  for  investment,  we  would 
still  have  the  old  system  in  force.  If  one 
worker  held  more  stock  than  another  there 
would  be  exploitation.  It  would  afford  an  op- 
portunity for  political  manipulation,  and  dis- 
sension from  without  and  within.  Whatever 
rights  are  given  will  be  exercised,  and  if  pri- 
vate ownership  of  the  means  of  production  is 
the  foundation,  we  can  only  expect  the  war- 
fare and  exploitation  of  a  capitalist  structure 
built  upon  it.     If  we  desire  the   Cooperative 


32  CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM 

v/'  Commonwealth  we  must  have  a  foundation  of 
Collectivism  to  build  upon.  There  is  abso- 
lutely no  possibility  of  success  by  means 
which  would  give  individual  rights  to  social 
property.  Stocks  and  bonds  belong  to  Capital- 
ism and  not  to  Socialism,  and  are  a  means 
of  exploitation.  That  is  their  only  use  or 
purpose.  If  reason  does  not  show  us  this, 
then  the  experience  of  cooperative  colonies 
formed  on  this  basis  certainly  gives  us  evi- 
dence of  its  folly.  For  the  same  reason  the 
property  should  not  be  incumbered  in  any 
manner;  for  to  abolish  interest  is  the  purpose 
of  its  establishment. 

Socialism  can  not  be  established  by  capital- 
v'  ists,  or  by  capitalistic  methods;  but  by  coop- 
erators  who  are  willing  to  contribute  to  Col- 
lective capital.  Nor  can  the  Cooperative  Com- 
monwealth be  built  by  philanthropists  and 
handed  over  already  made.  It  must  be  con- 
structed by  Socialists  according  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  Socialism. 

The  Collective  property  should  be  held  and 
supervised  by  a  permanent  TRUSTEESHIP, 
under  a  Deed  of  Trust  properly  specifying  the 
method  of  procedure  and'  terms  of  manage- 
ment. 

This  is  to  avoid  the  principal  cause  of  fail- 
ure in  cooperative  colonies  through  abused 
democracy,  and  to  secure  permanent  social 
ownership.      It   makes    it   impossible   for   any 


CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM  33 

person  or  persons  to  divert  or  use  the  prop- 
erty for  their  own  individual  interests,  and 
secures  to  each  member  the  knowledge  that 
the  social  property  shall  only  be  used  for 
social  benefit. 

While  there  should  be  democratic  manage- 
ment it  can  not  be  left  open  to  political  in- 
trigue either  through  good  or  bad  intentions; 
and  by  making  these  Trustees  permanent  all 
danger  is  removed  of  dissension  or  disruption 
caused  by  personal  ambition  to  which  we  are 
all  liable  in  this  individualistic  age. 

This  is  to  be  an  industrial  organization  and 
should  be  managed  in  a  business  manner,  and 
this  form  of  organization  gives  assurance  of 
that;  it  guards  the  property  in  the  interest  of 
all;  takes  away  all  power  to  injure,  either 
from  Trustees,  or  members  or  from  outside  in- 
fluences ,and  yet  gives  no  more  power  to  the 
Trustees,  because  they  are  bound  by  the  Trust 
Deed  and  amenable  to  the  law  which  has  al- 
ways been  strict  with  these  officers  and  al- 
ways will  be  under  this  system  of  private 
ownership.  When  fully  organized  the  great- 
est or  only  duty  of  the  Trustees  would  be  to 
see  that  the  affairs  were  being  administered 
according  to  the  Trust  Deed. 

Management 

The  management  of  business  has  changed 
with   industrial   development. 


34  CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM 

The  formation  of  trusts  or  large  corpora- 
tions whose  business  extends  over  large  ter- 
ritory or  into  all  parts  of  the  world  has 
changed  the  personal  equation  to  one  of  prin- 
ciple. 

Formerly  the  successful  business  man  was 
one  who  had  personal  knowledge  and  con- 
trol of  every  detail  of  the  business. 

The  captains  of  industry  have  been  or  are 
men  with  ability  to  organize  a  business  ma- 
chine in  which  the  personnel  changes  without 
interfering  with  its  efficiency. 

There  is  as  much  difference  between  past 
and  present  business  management  as  there  is 
between  the  hand  worked  machine  and  the 
modern  printing  press. 

There  should  be  persons  at  the  head  of 
each  department  who  are  experts  at  their  par- 
ticular work  who  also  have  organizing  ability. 

The  heads  of  all  departments  would  form  a 
Board  of  Management  or  commission  to  direct 
and  supervise  all  the  work  with  possibly  a 
general  superintendent  over  all. 

A  merit  system  or  civil  service  commission 
should  also  be  established,  under  which  all 
positions  requiring  expert  knowledge  would 
be  filled  in  the  order  of  the  abiHty  of  the 
applicants.  This  would  prevent  favoritism 
or  the  building  of  personal  political  machines. 

Democracy  should  also  be  in  force  to  give 
all  workers  a  voice  in  the  direction  of  the  so- 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  35 

cial  affairs,  and  to  choose  from  those  who 
have  qualified  the  person  they  wish  to  serve 
in  any  position.  Back  of  this  would  be  the 
Trustees  to  hold  the  property  and  prevent  it 
being  diverted  to  any  other  use  than  the  orig- 
inal intention. 

Wages  should  not  be  paid  because  they 
would  not  be  a  part  of  our  system.  Time 
checks  should  be  used  exchangeable  for  pro- 
ducts, or  at  our  own  bank  for  money  if  nec- 
essary. 

Money  is  used  as  a  means  of  exploitation, 
and  is  bought  by  labor,  and  if  used  among 
ourselves  for  exchange  would  mean  labor  tied 
up  in  a  useless  form.  That  is  if  10,000  people 
had  $100,000  in  circulation  for  exchange,  it 
means  that  much  labor  tied  up  which  might 
be  put  to  use  by  providing  land  and  tools  for 
others  to  work. 

CHAPTER  XL 
Constructive  Logic 

Society  should  be  viewed  as  a  unit,  for  that 
is  what  it  is,  and  a  correct  understanding  of 
it  can  not  be  had  in  any  other  way.  All  the 
social  warfare  is  caused  by  seeking  self  in-  y^ 
terest  from  an  individual  standpoint.  The 
struggles  of  economic  classes  are  based  on  in- 
dividualistic self  interest  without  regard  to 
social  justice. 


36  CONSTRUCTIVE    SOCIALISM 

The  workingman  or  woman  who  supports 
this  competitive  system^  although  looking  for 
higher  wages  or  better  conditions^  is  actuated 
by  the  same  spipt  as  the  capitalist  who  sup- 
ports this  system.  It  is  not  a  question  of 
the  class  to  which  they  belong,  but  whether 
they  are  individualists  or  Socialists.  A  Con- 
structive Socialist  is  a  full  fledged  socialist. 

Socialist  economic  force  is  stronger  than 
Capitalist  economic  force.  We  have  the  power, 
opportunity  and  legal  right  to  organize  this 
force  now.  Hundreds  of  books  may  be  writ- 
ten on  this  subject,  but  this  is  the  essence  of 
all  that  can  be  said. 

Voluntary  Cooperation  is  more  scientific 
than  forcible  cooperation  by  law  or  otherwise. 
Because  force  has  been  used  in  the  past  is 
not  a  reason  why  it  should  be  used  to  inaugu- 
rate the  Cooperative  Commonwealth.  For 
that  is  a  state  where  we  hope  to  step  from 
tyranny  to  freedom. 

Voluntary  constructive  socialism  does  not 
arouse  class  hatred  by  appealing  to  one  class 
to  overthrow  another,  but  by  showing  all  who 
can  see  the  uselessness  and  injustice  of  this 
system  that  it  is  their  duty  to  commence  build- 
ing a  better  one.  The  logic  of  events  or 
economic  determinism  makes  this  both  pos- 
sible and  necessary. 

We  believe  those  who  see  the  necessity  for 
a  change  and  know  the  remedy,  have  incurred 


CONSTRUCTIVE   SOCIALISM  37 

an  obligation  to  demonstrate  their  knowledge 
to  others. 

Preaching  and  theorizing  has  become  a  hu- 
man habit,  Constructive  Socialism  is  a  con- 
viction that  we  ought  to  practice  what  we  be- 
lieve and  preach. 

Social  reforms  are  good  and  Constructive 
Socialism  does  not  take  away  the  opportunity 
to  aid  in  that  direction  while  engaged  in  the 
reconstruction  of  the  social  system. 

The  mass  of  humanity  only  move  when  they 
see  something  to  immediately  satisfy  their 
economic  wants.  Therefore,  it  is  necessary  for 
those  who  have  reached  a  state  of  intelligence 
of  knowing  a  better  system  of  living  and  work- 
ing, to  put  it  into  physical  effect,  that  humanity 
may  see  and  grasp  it.  What  is  the  use  of 
having  this  intelligence  if  it  is  not  used? 

Since  this  book  was  first  written,  the  Volun- 
tary Cooperative  Association  has  been  organ- 
ized to  commence  the  construction  of  a  better 
industrial  system  according  to  the  ideas  herein 
stated. 

Further  information  can  be  obtained  by  ad- 
dressing the  Association  at  its  headquarters 
at  518  South  Hill  Street,  Los  Angeles,  Cali- 
fornia. 


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The  Voluntary  Co 

The  Official  Organ  of  the  Vohintary  Cooperative 


Volume  1 


MAY- JUNE,  1914 


The  V.  C.  A 

Is  Organized  to  Show  People 
Themselves  hy  Cooper 


By  Ernest  Dawson 

The  Voluntary  Cooperative  Associa- 
tion proposes  to  secure  land  and  tools, 
establish  industries,  all  of  which  will  be 
collectively  owned.  Work  on  the  land 
will  be  done  cooperatively,  and  workers 


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THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
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PAT.  JAN.  21.  1908 


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